Top photo by Lim Weixiang

The external climate of September 11, 2001 created the best General Election (GE) result for then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong leading his third GE as the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) Secretary-General.

14 years later, September 11 proves to be a special day for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who was also leading his third GE as the PAP Secretary-General.

The PAP had scored 69.9%, and won 83 of 89 seats including WP-held Punggol East.

Below are five quick observations after PAP's resounding win in the 2015 GE

1. A very strong mandate for the PM Lee

At the PAP press conference in Marine Parade GRC, Emeritus Senior Minister (ESM) Goh Chok Tong told the media that if Singaporeans are happy with what has been done, they should give the PAP "a strong mandate to continue with what they are trying to do".

And it was a resounding mandate that they gave PAP and PM Lee.

There is a landslide win for PM Lee's PAP. In fact, it was PAP's 2nd best performance over the past seven GEs in 31 years (since 1984).

2. DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam saves the day

DPM Tharman, who was universally popular across both sides of the aisle, saves the day with his final rally speech at East Coast GRC.

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In fact, DPM Tharman also used his appearance with great effectiveness to assist the PAP's team at Holland-Bukit Timah GRC.

DPM Tharman's team was also the top performer among all PAP constituencies today.

3. The irrelevance of almost all Opposition Parties (except the Workers' Party): 

For the Singapore People's Party (SPP), there appears to be no life after veteran Opposition MP Chiam See Tong. Lina Chiam is unable to even secure 35% in former SPP stronghold Potong Pasir.

CONCESSION SPEECH BY LINA CHIAM: Thank you my supporters, my friends and voters in Potong Pasir. I have just... http://t.co/zJ7gwhliX6

— SPP (@sgpeoplesparty) September 11, 2015

For the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) led by a resurgent leader Chee Soon Juan, they did even worse in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC (33.38% in 2015 vs 39.92% in 2011)

In fact, SDP barely managed the one-third mark:

Yuhua SMC (Jaslyn Go): 26.46%

Bukit Batok SMC (Sadasivam Veriyah): 26.40%

Bukit Panjang SMC (Khung Wai Yeen): 31.63%

Holland-Bukit Timah GRC (Chee Soon Juan, Paul Tambyah, Sidek Mallek, Chong Wai Fung): 33.38%

Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC (John Tan, Bryan Lim, Damanhuri bin Abas, Wong Souk Yee): 31.27%

4. PM Lee Hsien Loong, DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang, Minister Chan Chun Sing and Health Minister Gan Kim Yong score A1s:

Top scorer: DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam (79.28%)

2nd place: PM Lee Hsien Loong (78.63%)

3rd place: Trade and Industry Minister and sometimes Acting PM Lim Hng Kiang's team (78.57%)

4th place: Minister Chan Chun Sing (77.71%)

5th place: Health Minister Gan Kim Yong (76.89%)

5.  70, 74, 78, 65 (-13), 63, 61, 65, 75 (+10), 67 (-8), 60 (-7), 69 (+9)

According to Straits Times editor-at-large Han Fook Kwang ("Mood swings can lead to vote swings"), he noticed four large swings in the past 10 general elections.

Make that five today.

What could have caused this swing yesterday?

SG50? The passing of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew? PM Lee's personal popularity? The popularity of government's social policies?

We don't really know, but what we know is most Singaporeans will wake up to this new reality:

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